Minnesota Nuclear Energy Study

Provide information for Minnesota’s Nuclear Energy Study

 

At the direction of the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Department of Commerce has contracted with the Great Plains Institute (GPI) “to conduct a study to inform policymakers regarding the potential impact of new nuclear generation on the public interest of Minnesota, including affordability, reliability, environmental protection, and public health.” The study must be completed by January 2027 and will reflect a balanced representation of perspectives.

Request for Information (RFI)

GPI is issuing a Request for Information to gather factual information relevant to the specific topics identified by the state legislature. GPI welcomes relevant information from organizations and individuals who have expertise in these topics.

 

Response period

The Request for Information will be open from August 14, 2026, through September 14, 2026.

How responses will inform the study

Information submitted through the Request for Information will help guide GPI’s research and analysis and may be incorporated into the final study.

What you can submit

Respondents may answer any or all of the questions and may include supporting research, data, or other relevant materials.

 

Respond to the request for information

About the study

During the 2026 Minnesota state legislative session, lawmakers passed HF 2438, which directs the Minnesota Department of Commerce to conduct a study to inform policymakers about the potential impact of new nuclear generation in the state. The study will examine a list of specific topics identified by the legislature, including nuclear technologies, costs, ratepayer impacts, siting, waste management, economic and workforce impacts, public safety, and state energy goals.
The full list of subjects the study must review includes:

  • Federal licensing regulations
  • Technology safety and costs
  • Lifecycle cost analysis and comparison with alternatives
  • Ratepayer impacts
  • Financial incentives that could support new nuclear
  • Prospects for small modular reactors of 300MW or less
  • Siting issues
  • Nuclear waste issues

  • Host community economic impacts
  • Impact on public safety
  • Impact on state GHG goals
  • Implementation timelines
  • Statute and administrative rule updates
  • Host community asset replacement
  • Workforce considerations

 

Read the full text of HF 2438

Language pertaining to the study begins on line 74.23.

Frequently Asked Questions

GPI will post answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the study at the link below. If you have a question you would like our team to answer or have other inquiries about the study, please email [email protected].

 

View the FAQ document

About GPI

For nearly 30 years, GPI has provided decision makers across the country with credible research, expert insights, and critical stakeholder engagement to accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment. GPI is a trusted partner for communities, organizations, and governments that are navigating complex and controversial opportunities or challenges in the energy and climate space because of our unique capability to pair credible and actionable technical expertise with an inclusive process of engaging diverse interests.

We have recently conducted studies for states and state legislatures on issues including modernizing utility regulation, carbon management, community solar, community choice aggregation, distributed resource interconnection, transportation decarbonization, and other topics.

Learn more about GPI by reading about our work.